Erlangen eats like a Franconian city: hearty portions, local pork and fish, and a natural accompaniment of Franconian beer. The area around the Bohlenplatz and the pedestrian Hauptstrasse has a solid selection of restaurants covering Franconian cuisine alongside Italian, Turkish, and Vietnamese options brought in by the student population.
The Altstadt has several traditional Gasthäuser serving Schäufele (pork shoulder), Sauerbraten, and Frankenwurst. In late May during the Bergkirchweih, the food stalls on the hill serve everything from grilled fish to roast pork alongside the local beer.